Donald Trump still gets the love and sales in Redding – Record Searchlight

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Stewart Poths and Suzanne Stratten of Vancouver, Washington sold flags, T-shirts and hats Monday, March 1, 2021 at the corner of Hartnell and Cypress avenues in Redding.(Photo: Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight)

Donald Trump may have lost the election in November, but Gretchen Vela is still flying his flag.

The Redding woman bought one in Redding on Monday from acouplewho set up tables and displays selling Trump flags, hats and T-shirts at the corner of Hartnell and Cypress avenues.

Vela and her husband came to buy a flag that says "Jesus is my savior and Donald Trump is my president."

To Vela, it is appropriate to mention Trump and Jesus in the same sentence.

"He makes it possible to keep our religious rights and what we feel is right," Vela said.

Stewart Poths and Suzanne Stratton of Vancouver, Washington, travel around Oregon, Washington and Northern California selling Trump goods. Sales are still strong, even though Trump is no longer president, Poths said.

One of the flags for sale in Redding on Monday, March 1, 2021 looked like an American flag but featured assault rifles and handguns.(Photo: Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight)

"It's good. A lot of the support is really good," Poths said, especially in Redding.

In addition to the standard "Make America Great Again" ball caps, there were also "Trump 2024" flags, "Our Nation Our Votes Stolen" flags, yellow Gadsden flags featuring an image of a coiled snake and the phrase "Don't tread on me."

There was also a flag that resembledthe American flag, but the stars were made up of images of handguns and the stripes were composed of assault rifles.

Vela said she bought her first Trump hat from the same vendors a couple days ago.

Stewart Poths of Vancouver, Washington, shows off a flag he had for sale in Redding on Monday, March 1, 2021.(Photo: Damon Arthur/Record Searchlight)

"He (Trump) just reminds me of my grandpa, who was a hard worker," Vela said.

But Stevan Keyser of Redding said he was angered at seeing the Trump goods up for sale. He was riding the bus when it passed by the corner and saw the items up for sale.

"I don't think that what I was seeing there was American," Keyser said. "I think this moves beyond free speech because it is incendiary."

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Former President Trump speaks to a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida, promises not to start a new political party. USA TODAY

Damon Arthur is the Record Searchlights resources and environmentreporter. He is among the first on the scene at breaking news incidents, reporting real time on Twitter at@damonarthur_RS. Damon is part of a dedicated team of journalists who investigate wrongdoing and find the unheard voices to tell the stories of the North State. He welcomes story tips at 530-338-8836 and damon.arthur@redding.com. Help local journalism thrive bysubscribing today!

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Donald Trump still gets the love and sales in Redding - Record Searchlight